ICE shares $160,000 with southwest Texas Sheriff’s Office
Money forfeited from bulk cash seizure at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry
EAGLE PASS, Texas — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) distributed $164,577.44 in funds forfeited from bulk cash seized to the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department January 12, as part of a federal asset sharing program.
ICE HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge, Shane Folden, presented the poster-sized check to Maverick County Sheriff’s Department.
“We are proud to recognize the key role that our local law enforcement partners play in bringing to justice transnational criminals and their networks.” said HSI’s Folden. “With asset-sharing like this, we are able to utilize the illegal profits from the criminal networks to help recuperate expenses for local law enforcement and to ease the burden on our communities."
The forfeiture is the result of a seizure that occurred on May 20, 2019, during an outbound inspection conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers assigned to the Eagle Pass Port of Entry. Pursuant to a subsequent criminal investigation, ICE HSI arrested two individuals who were charged with illegal export contrary to law. Both defendants were prosecuted and convicted.
The funds are divided among participating agencies as part of ICE's asset-sharing agreement. The forfeited funds are distributed to local law enforcement agencies to financially support the expensive work of fighting crime and keeping the streets of south Texas safe.
Asset Sharing Program
Individuals and organizations involved in the myriad of criminal conduct, for which ICE has been charged with combating, are often involved for one reason only – commercial advantage and/or financial gain. Whether utilized in the fight against human smuggling, narcotics, weapons, or contraband smuggling, financial crime, commercial fraud and intellectual property rights violations, asset forfeiture has proven to be a powerful tool in combating criminal activity and other violations that threaten national security.
The ICE Asset Forfeiture Program exemplifies ICE’s efforts in the area of identification, seizure and forfeiture of assets that represent the proceeds of, and/or were used to facilitate federal violations under the investigative jurisdiction of ICE. The program adheres to the core belief that the consistent, and strategic, application of asset forfeiture laws is used in order to disrupt and dismantle the financial infrastructure of criminal enterprises and other national security threats. Asset Forfeiture is an essential element of comprehensive and effective law enforcement. Accordingly, ICE brings to bear considerable authority, expertise and resources in the area of asset forfeiture. The forfeiture of assets can be and is utilized as a sanction in criminal, civil and administrative investigative activities.
To report suspicious activity, call ICE's 24-hour toll-free hotline at: 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or visit ice.gov/tips.
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